Joyner on STEP Program

Tim Curley’s and Guido d’Elia’s pride and joy, the STEP program, could get some needed changes under the Joyner regime at Penn State Athletics.

The euphemistically ironic acronym STEP stands for Seat Transfer & Equity Plan, which was anything but equitable in the minds of many fans.

“Let’s say this: We’ve actually talked to some alums and supporters that have some ideas about it,” he said of the program. “We’re listening to them, and it was our intention to take a very strong look at the STEP program. We didn’t have enough time this year because of the way things unfolded. … But it’s been my intention to relook at the STEP program anyway for the next season.

“Now we’ll relook at the STEP program based on what we know the world is right now. So I don’t know what we’ll do, if anything, but we’re going to relook at it.”

Any changes would be implemented no earlier than the 2013 football season.

Many season ticket holders were pissed off when STEP was announced, and the students got screwed big time, with their primo seats being swapped with a much less desirable end zone location.

Last year, the first season in which STEP existed, had the smallest average attendance since Beaver Stadium was expanded in 2001.

This year, Penn State claims to have sold 85,000 season tickets.

With the program crippled by NCAA sanctions, how long can that last? How long can Penn State continue to sell seats at $400 and $600. Joyner needs to take a long, hard look at the details.